Daily Bread Mailbag: Wilder, Pacquiao, Cotto, More

By Stephen "Breadman" Edwards

The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with Stephen "Breadman" Edwards answering questions regarding some mythical matchups, Erroll Spence vs. Jessie Vargas, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, and more.

Whats good breadman? Congrats on the impressive win and hope to see j-rock in a big fight next. 1st off what are your thoughts on prospects Caleb Plant and Antoine Douglas? Looking at all the young guys coming up at 154 and 160 who do you think will be best in 2 yrs? What are your thoughts on the mayweather ppv numbers which I heard are around the 360k mark? Will these poor numbers effect ppv in the future? Lastly what are your picks in these head to head to matchups Broner vs Iman, spence vs Sammy Vasquez, jesse hart vs j leon love, Adonis Stevenson vs jean pascal, Anthony Joshua vs deontay wilder? goodluck with everything

Bread’s Response: Caleb Plant seems to be a very good prospect. He has size, charisma and athleticism but he has a long way to go. I never get too excited about a prospect anymore until I see them in tough.

Antoine Douglas is not a prospect anymore. He’s a top 15 contender and in my opinion the best American Middleweight under 25. Douglas is no joke. He’s been in tough with veterans, he’s beaten undefeated prospects…. Douglas has been brought along great. I don’t know if he can become champion because Middleweight is top heavy but he will be a solid contender for the next few years.

I didn’t hear the Mayweather vs Berto PPV numbers were 360k. All I can say is wow! I have to do some research to verify that before I comment on it.

Imam, Spence, Hart, 50/50 and Joshua.

Bread-

Hope all is well my dude with you and the family. Quick question … to weigh in on, so let me get some of this work in.

What am I missing? A 34-0 American born heavyweight champion with 33 knockouts who also just happens to have earned a bronze Olympic medal. Yet, the world isn’t at this guy’s feet. Again, what am I missing? Is it his team not getting the publicity he deserves? Do people “in the know” think this guy is all paperweight and not the real deal? What is it? Again, an American born, undefeated heavyweight champion and Olympic medalist!!! If this was the 60s, 70s or 80s he would have the world at his feet.

For one last time, what am I missing? Reggie, Atlanta

Bread’s Response: I think Wilder’s popularity and ability are coming along. You have to remember Wilder was brought along slow because he only had about 20 amateur fights. So he wasn’t fast tracked to stardom. They had to hide Wilder a little bit until his ability caught up with his appeal. I think he will catch on. In fact he’s catching on. Wilder is a star, he’s just not a superstar yet.

Bread,

I was really impressed after seeing your  5 minute video training Julian for his last fight. Good luck on your further future success when he wins the belt. I can see you becoming a Virgin hunter type announcer. GL

I was recently watching tony ayala jr last fight before he went to prison. During his post fight interview he said something along the lines, "I'm looking at your Roberto Duran and want you" straight into the camera. That seriously sent chills down my spine! His talent was unbelievable, aggressive fighter who knew how to slip and chin was solid as it came. How do you think Duran vs. ayala would have played out if he didn't slip into obscurity?

Tony

Ventura California

Bread’s Response: Great question. It’s really hard to tell because Duran was hot and cold in the 80’s. One fight he looked lights out the next fight he went through the motions. Ayala was hot in the early 80s so let’s assume the Duran that fought Davey Moore and Marvin Hagler would have been the one who faced Ayala. Duran didn’t like having to hunt guys down once he got older. So Ayala would have been in his wheel house. I say Duran in hotly contested decision. Duran is as natural a fighter as there ever was.

Also, you always mention that Ali is the only fighter to beat 4 gold Olympic medalist so it got me thinking who else have beat that Many and of the top of my head I can only come up with Tito Trinidad that beat 3. Is there anybody else I am missing?

And now that we on the subject a mythical matchup

Trnidad Vs JCChavez

Best of Wishes and Good Luck

LitoLoso

Bread’s Response: Ali’s record will probably never be broken. Think about this. His 1st Gold Medal scalp was Floyd Patterson who won gold in the 1952 Olympics. His last was Leon Spinks who won gold in the 1976 Olympics. That’s a long period in boxing terms. You literally have to be great in two decades to pull that off.

Mike Tyson also beat 3 Gold medalist. Henry Tillman, Michael Spinks and Tyrell Biggs. He had a chance to tie Ali if he could have defeated Lennox Lewis.

Chavez was a small welterweight who never did much at the weight. Tito was a huge welter who started out there. I’m assuming you mean prime vs prime. Chavez’s prime was 135 in my opinion. I believe Chavez is the better p4p fighter but head to head he would have too small for Tito.

What's up Bread?

I've always been curious about the idea that an aging great fighter always potentially has "one great fight left in them".  I wanted to get your take on a few examples to examine why the "last great performance" was indeed the last and couldn't be duplicated.

1. Joe Frazier in Ali-Frazier I.  You once said in a previous mailbag that Smokin' Joe lost his prime in this fight.  I know this wasn't Frazier's last great performance but the consensus seems to be that this was his absolute peak.

2. Manny Pacquiao in Pacquiao-Margarito.  Was this the end of Manny's all time great run strictly because of the punishment he took? Would a longer layoff after the fight have made a difference?

3.  Miguel Cotto in Mayweather-Cotto.  I remember you saying that you felt like Cotto put his entire being into this fight and it seemed true until he obliterated Delvin Rodriguez and dominated Martinez to win the lineal crown at 160.

Why do you think Cotto was able to rebound where others are never quite the same? I know the opposition was different so im not making a direct comparison but i just wanted to get a deeper understanding of when a fighter's last great performance is truly the last one.

Peace,

William in West Palm

Bread’s Response: Great question. Joe Frazier indeed lost his prime vs Ali in 1971. If you look at any footage of Frazier after that fight you will see a slower, less spunky fighter.

Pacquiao did some great things after Margarito but there is no doubt in my mind he lost his 3rd gear in that fight. I think when a fighter goes through that type of fight late in his career he has to learn how to recover from it. In this day of sports science there are many things you can do to recover. I’ve always believed Pacquiao was too complacent outside of the ring and this led to his drop off.

What Miguel Cotto has done could be the biggest turnaround in the history of boxing. I personally have never seen this before. I don’t know of a fighter who has regained his prime form in his mid 30s. This is remarkable. If Cotto defeats Canelo they should put him in the HOF in the ring after the fight. Think about this for a second. If Cotto could comprehensively defeat Canelo. Who would be the betting favorite if he were to fight Antonio Margarito, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather or Austin Trout in the very next fight?

Those are the 4 men who have defeated Cotto. This career turnaround would be so dramatic that I believe he would be the favorite to beat them all except Mayweather and if the Mayweather fight were to take place above 154 I think the line would be almost even.

I think Cotto’s S&C coach Gavin McMillan deserves a lot of credit for this turnaround. For the record I’m not doubting or questioning Cotto. I assume he is a clean athlete. But because of the PED era we live in, I would like to see an icon like Cotto do year around drug testing so there won’t be any negative whispers about his remarkable turnaround..

What's good Bread?? Once again, big ups to you on what you're doing in the game. What do you think of a matchup with Jesse Vargas and Erroll Spence?? Vargas is feeling salty about what took place in his fight against Bradley. That would give him a shot to prove he's on the elite level as well as Spence. I think Spence beats him up and wins by TKO in the 8th or 9th. What are your thoughts on Bradley splitting up with Diaz?? I think the Switch to Atlas will be very interesting. I think Tim will beat Rios but will get hurt several times in the process. I think Bradley's best days are behind him, but I always root for him because of his grittiness and fighters spirit. I'm going to go against most opinions and go with Cotto against Alvarez. (Tough pick). I think this will be a case of the crafty vet schooling the the young strong lion. But if this fight is remotely close, it will go to Alvarez definitely. JMW is getting even more interesting. I'm sure Julian we be in the mix and will be one of the best, if not thee best, out of the bunch.

J Guapo

Bread’s Response: I think Errol Spence vs Jesse Vargas would be a good fight. Vargas has been deep in fights several times and fighting Tim Bradley will help him cope with the level. I think Spence beats him but he will have to earn it. Spence’s opposition has not been on the level of Vargas’s.

I think Tim Bradley has the right to choose who he wants to train him. I also think Joel Diaz has some valid points on why they split up. Wife/girlfriend managers is a subject I won’t touch….

I think Tim Bradley can handle a strong personality like Teddy Atlas. Most of these fighters were not raised in a disciplined environment. They have no idea what respect is. That’s why most over talk their elder trainers. Tim Bradley was raised by a disciplinarian father who instilled respect and discipline. Bradley will be able to handle Atlas’s harsh ways. A guy like Bradley is a coach’s dream. I know character and Tim Bradley is full of great character when it comes to boxing.

The ironic thing is I was picking Rios to beat Tim before I knew about the trainer switch. Rios was lights out against Alvarado in their 3rd fight. He had a snappyness about him. I think Rios will hover over Bradley, he’s about 3 inches taller. I think his left uppercut with be the difference. Uppercuts cause Facial damage and Tim has been swelling up lately. Bradley wings his shots in order to get power and Rios throws short deadly punches with no wind up.

I’m going against the grain because usually the urban rhythm gives Mexican fighters fits. Usually the better boxer wins these match ups. But my gut tells me that Rios clips Timmy late.

I like Canelo to win.

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